African swine fever in Estonia development and actions. Andres Lillemäe Deputy CEO

Transcription

1 African swine fever in Estonia development and actions Andres Lillemäe Deputy CEO

2 ESTONIA The area of Estonia is 45,227 m 2 The population is 1,3 million people There are about hunters (about 1% of the population) and 327 hunting districts in Estonia We have 51 game species: 19 mammals and 32 birds hunting year 1. march last day of february Hunting bag 2016/17: Elk 7 390, deer 1 664, roe deer , wild boar , brown bear 55, wolf 114, grey seal 10, beaver 6 610, fox 5 558, racoon dog 9 179, marten

3 327 hunting districts in Estonia - Hunting clubs have agreement with state to use hunting district for 10 years. - The minimal hunting district must be at least ha - The average hunting territory is about ha

4 Estonia as a hunting land Hunting rights for small game belong to the landowner, big game to the hunting clubs. Hunting is based on the principle of collective hunting. The owner of the hunting territory has the right to validate the prices of the licenses (for the game). About foreign hunters visit Estonia every year.

5 ASF: spread of the virus in Estonia

6 ASF

7 ASF in RUSSIA

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11 Dynamics on wild boar numbers Year Found dead infected Hunted infected Sum of positiive samples Quota from state Hunting bag Buried carcasses executed total * 284* 488* * 199* 13* 3236*

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13 Actions taken to combat ASF September 2014 ban of driven hunt and hunting with dogs in the infected areas (First strategy in 2014 set the goal not to disturb infected areas) Ban on hunting with dogs lifted in December 2014 for beaver (with dogs in FCI 3. and 4. group) Containers distributed for the collection of ASF related carcasses by the state authorities August 2015 compulsory hunting bag for wild boar (29 100) with the clause that 60% of hunted animals must be female August 2015 supplementary feeding of wild boar banned (Baiting is still allowed 10 kg maximum on the ground and 100 kg in the feeder. Min distance between baiting stations set to 1 km. Additional feeding allowed during summer to decrease damages to crops.) August 2015 ban on driven hunts and hunting with dogs lifted (As the fever spread, the strategy changed and was concentrated to bring the population down as quikly as possible).

14 Distributed conteiners for the collection of ASF related carcasses

15 Actions taken to combat ASF 2. Goal to decrease wild boar densities to 3 ind/1000 ha by spring ,5 ind/1000 ha by spring 2017 and 1,5 ind/1000 ha by spring 2018 Driven hunt for wild boar allowed year round Use of dogs during hunts extended by one month (March) Shooting of wild boar from vehicles allowed Use of artificial light allowed for wild boar hunting Wild boar with ASF symptoms can be shot without permit Processing of wild boar carcasses is prohibited before the results from the lab are received

16 Distributed cold boxes

17 Actions taken to combat ASF 3. Fees paid by the Veterinary Service for the disposal on wild boar carcasses and for hunting female wild boar. 70 EUR for each wild boar buried and 35 for each wild boar brought to the collection container and 120 eur for each 1+ year female shot during Compensations paid for buring due to the large number of dead wild boars found and to keep the hunters motivated on the disposal of the carcasses. Same goes for the compensation for shooting female wild boar. Hunters tend not to shoot large females but when population control is the main goal then shooting females should be the main priority. 2016/2017 hunting bag for wild boar set to with the share of females in hunting bag set to 50% Additional feeding banned with no derogations, baiting allowed but in smaller quantities Baiting allowed but only 5 kg on the ground and maximum of 100 kg per month. One baiting station per 100 ha and min distance between bating stations 1 km. Bating stations must be registered to the Environmental board.

18 Biosecurity measures - topic no 1 Ground rule: To eradicate the disease, it's neccesary to reduce the virus load in the environment, meaning above all ensuring biosecurity measures throughout the whole process. Biosecurity measures during hunting. When hunting, it must be taken into account that each hunted and dead hunted wild boar is a risk of infection, and it is therefore very important to ensure biosecurity at every step. The carcasses of hunted wild boars must be transported so that they do not come into contact with each other. It is prohibited to remove skin or cut the wild boar into pieces before it has been tested for ASF Carcasses must be kept/stored separately, each carcase must be identifiable Careful implementation of biosecurity measures will help reduce the risk of transmission of virus and contribute to its eradication from the environment.

19 Minimum requirement to handle hunted wild boars 327 hunting districts All of them are visited and controlled 2017 by Vetservice (film clip) 186 have place for handling of hunted wild boar 136 have cold boxes to keep hunted wild boars over

20 Action and spread of the virus this year (2017) The ASF led to a pigfarm in Pärnumaa county (South of Estonia) in June pigs were executed. They area was put in a quarantine and disinfected. In July the European Comission confirmed the change in resolution according to ASF. The main amendment was that it is now allowed to butcher the pigs (in 3 rd zone/part) on the same day. In July the ASF led to Saaremaa island s pigfarm (3200 pigs). In August the Veterinary gave infostands (w necessary Biosecurity measures needed due to ASF) to all Estonian pigfarms.

21 Action and spread of the virus this year (2017) In September (EHS) did two ASF infomeetings in cooperation with the Veterinary Service. They presented researches and current situation according to ASF. In September the ASF led to a pigfarm (6800 pigs) in Läänemaa county (western part of Estonia). Restricted area was set up. In October European Comission approved the new amendment that concerned ASF zones/parts in Europe. The updated division of the zones improves trading. Since September to beginning of December the ASF has been low. In every week there been found approx boars, who had ASF. This year the ASF has taken 797 wild boars (data from 4th Dec).

22 ASF in Estonia role of communication and media Andra Hamburg Press officer-editor

23 Positions of EHS according to ASF (2014) Active players Responsibility (hunting, biosecurity measures) Cooperation with authorities and information interchange Partners for the state Big problem is the extraordinary opportunity. ASF media plan.

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25 Every important news & updates related to the ASF New statics comes every week

26 Activities Awareness raising Info meetings for hunters and partners Agreement with Veterinary and Food Board to put the carcasses to conteiners, to bury carcasses and to hunt females (hunters collect samples for rabies testing). Infographics, flyers, videoclips

27 INFOGRAPHICS: BIOSECURITY IN FOREST TO ERADICATE THE AFRICAN SWINE FEVER (ASF)

28 Information for hunters STepltzZuFVdLqNXr35IR8ZbwUpe

29 Estonian Hunters Society - emotion or tone of the coverage

30 The media role The situation is stabilised, the media is in a waiting position. It s our duty to raise awareness and show our important role in it. The best way to show our role and importancy in a society. Press-releases, press-conferences or other events etc.

31 Our message Hunters are well-organized part of society and we are ready to take further responsibility. We wish to be good partners for state down the line.

32 Thank You!